Thousands of people across Bolton have still yet to receive their £150 council tax rebate, as the deadline looms ever closer.

The one-off payment was introduced by the government earlier this year as a way of helping people all over the country who are struggling with the mounting cost-of-living crisis.

But Bolton Council’s findings have shown that a total of 22,216 people in the borough who do not pay their council tax by direct debit have not yet claimed their money, with the deadline approaching on September 30.

Cllr Sean Hornby said: “Obvious the £150 is welcome and the majority of that was quite easy to do because they’re direct debits.

“Obviously they are quite a number of people who haven’t come forward yet who aren’t on direct debit.”

Cllr Hornby added that he believes it is vital the deadline is given more publicity.

He said: “It’s important that people don’t miss out on this, its not a lot of money but it is some money.”

The funding package, granted by central government was first approved at a meeting of Bolton Council held earlier this week on Monday April 25.

But since then, there have been difficulties in making sure everyone in the borough gets what they are entitled to with some opposition leaders claiming people have been confused about the payments.

Cllr Nick Peel said: “I’ve had people come to me and say I’m not entitled to it because I don’t pay council tax and I’ve had to say, yes you are because its not a council tax rebate."

In total, 88,302 people in Bolton have received their payments, worth a grand total of £13,245,000

But as well as the 22,0216 people who have not yet claimed 1,261 claims have failed their spot checks - meaning discrepancies in their bank account details.

These findings were unveiled at a meeting of Bolton Council’s corporate scrutiny committee earlier this week.

But the council also said that it is taking steps to ensure that the remaining residents will get the money they are entitled to.

Letters have already been sent last week to the more than 22,000 people yet to get their money, along with those who failed their spotlight checks.